Background

The UN Conference on Sustainable Development (also known as the Rio+20 Earth Summit) will take place in Brazil on 4-6 June 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg.

The objective of the Conference is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and address new and emerging challenges. It will focus on two themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development. The Conference will result in a focused political document.

Working together- responsibility and opportunity

The 1992 UNCED was a crucial milestone for sustainable development. The past 20 years observed the dynamic development of the world economic and political system- emerging developing countries, new crisis on finance, food and climate, tougher environment and resource reality, enhancement of the civil society development… It’s time to look back to the past 20 years and reelect on lessons and experience and secure renewed political commitment and directions for the future.

As the civil society in the biggest emerging economy, Chinese NGOs have the responsibility to join in and contribute to the global discussion. At the same time, it offers great opportunity to enhance capacity and collaboration among Chinese NGOs, present and communicate our works to international community, and enlarge the working space by better interaction with government domestically and internationally.

Seven NGOs, namely China Civil Climate Action Network (CCAN), Greenovation Hub, Institute of Environment and Development (IED), Shangshui Conservation Center, Institute of Public and Environment Affairs (IPE), Society of Entrepreneurs & Ecology (SEE), Friends of Nature, are the initiating organizations for the joint initiatives for Chinese NGOs towards Rio+20.

Progress so far

Since the initiation of the process of June this year, great progress has been made under the contribution of all NGOs involved.

1. Set the direction

Nearly 20 NGOs have been involved in the process and collectively identified three working streams and chief responsible/coordinating organizations for each:

• 1) Track international negotiation;
• 2) Collaborate with NGOs in other countries in AP region and internationally e.g. exchange visit, and a China Day even in Rio, joint submissions;
• 3) Conduct a joint independent assessment report of China’s Agenda 21 implementation and sustainable development performance.

2. Capacity building

Besides collecting and sharing regularly learning resources, an intensive half-day training workshop was hosted on September 11 with over 20 participants (see photo below). The workshop covered various topics including: briefing of Rio history and current process, experience sharing of key issues and major group participation, sharing on UNEP report of Green Economy and group discussion. More capacity building events are under preparation.

3. Assessment report

Assessment report is seen as the most crucial element of the three working streams, as it relates most to the day-to-day work of each NGO. A steering committee comprising of well-known NGO colleagues and experts included Dr. Yang Fuqiang from NRDC’s Beijing office, Prof. Lv Zhi from Shanshui Conservation Center, etc to oversight the report and ensure the quality of it. Steering committee has, after intensive discussion among NGOs, developed the report framework and working methodology. Next step is to identify appropriate NGOs to take charge of each sub-session/chapter of the report and the steering committee will then streamlining the overall writing and editing. The whole report is expected to be finalized by next March and will be launched in Rio.

4. Zero Draft submission

A working group is under formation for drafting the Chinese NGO submission for Zero Draft of the negotiation text with the deadline of November 1st 2011. Surveys have been sent to NGOs for collecting views on different topics of the Rio+20 and dedicated members are also working on in-depth learning of key issues including green economy and institutional arrangement. At the same time, we are participating in the regional NGO collective submission process in Asia Pacific region.

5. Official conferences and meetings

Members (very limited number of course) of our networks have participated several official meetings including prep-cops in New York and the Rio+20 High Level Symposium in Beijing last month co-hosted by Chinese government and UN (see photo below), and will join in the Asia Pacific regional Major Groups Meeting (MGM) and Regional Preparatory Meeting (RPM) later this month in Seoul, South Korea, to strengthen the capacity and knowledge of negotiation and work more closely with regional NGOs.

CCAN Rio+20 contact persons:

Ms. Li Lina, Greenovation Hub, email: lilina.mun@gmail.com

Ms. Xu Jiayi, Institute for Environment and Development, email: jiayi.xu@ied.cn